Terrific Days Out For Train Buffs in the North East
All aboard!
Tanfield Railway
This year Tanefield Railway is celebrating its 300th birthday. The line was built to transport coal from collieries in the Tanfield area to the River Tyne and today visitors can discover the North East’s rich railway heritage here. Take a look inside Marley Hill engine shed (the world’s oldest working engine shed), walk across Causey Arch (the world’s oldest railway bridge) and take a trip on a vintage steam train with unique Victorian carriages.
Gateshead NE16 5ET
tanfield-railway.co.uk
Aln Valley Railway
Alnwick's heritage railway attraction promises a fun-filled day out for train buffs with a steam railway, tea room, miniature ride-on railway and outdoor play area.
Alnwick NE66 2EZ
alnvalleyrailway.co.uk
Hopetown
An award-winning visitor attraction in Darlington, you’ll enter Hopetown through the 1833 Goods Shed (also home to the café and coal-themed shop). Don’t miss the railway-themed digital experience, then discover Darlington’s story of rail engineering and innovative inventions. Special exhibitions take place throughout the year here whilst endless railway heritage items are on permanent display. Plus, you can see live engineering in action. Children will love the railway-themed adventure play park inspired by the story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
McNay Street, Darlington DL3 6SW
01325 405060
hopetowndarlington.co.uk
Weardale Railway
From Bishop Auckland to the Weardale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this 18-mile heritage line is the perfect way to take in scenery. Following restoration, passenger trains operate over a 16-mile section between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland, and there are intermediate stations at Frosterley, Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear.
Stanhope, Bishop Auckland DL13 2YS
weardale-railway.org.uk
Stephenson Steam Railway
At Stephenson Steam Railway you can marvel at the achievements of George and Robert Stephenson and take a trip on the two-mile industrial railway. Explore a fleet of coaches, steam and diesel locomotives that date back to the 1880s and the only surviving vehicle from the Tyneside Suburban Electric Railway. Plus, don’t miss Billy – the world’s third-oldest surviving steam locomotive.
Middle Engine Lane, North Shields NE29 8DX
0191 277 7135
stephensonsteamrailway.org.uk
Locomotion
Shildon, although a very small town in County Durham, is an integral part of railway history as the world’s first railway town, and at its dedicated museum you can discover the largest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles in Europe. In the Main Hall you can see more than 50 heritage rail vehicles, whilst the New Hall has six themed roads of railway vehicles.
Shildon DL4 2RE
locomotion.org.uk
